Mashed Plantains with Oh, Baby! Garlic–Tomato Shrimp on Top, Grilled Flank Steak with Lime and Onions, and Quick Rice with Black Beans

Name: Mashed Plantains with Oh, Baby! Garlic–Tomato Shrimp on Top, Grilled Flank Steak with Lime and Onions, and Quick Rice with Black Beans
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus a little to drizzle; 2 medium yellow onions, 1 finely chopped, 1 thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 3 tablespoons fresh thyme (from 5 or 6 sprigs), chopped; 3 cups chicken stock or broth; 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice; 1 15-ounce can black beans; Coarse salt; 2 pounds flank steak; 2 tablespoons grill seasoning, such as McCormick’s Montreal Steak Seasoning; 1 lime, zested, cut into wedges; 3 green plantains; Wax paper; 1 small green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 1 pound small shrimp, peeled, deveined, and coarsely chopped; Coarse black pepper; Zest and juice of 1 lemon; 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce; 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (a handful of leaves); Hot sauce, such as Tabasco, to taste

December 9, 2011

Gloria Estefan taught me how to cook plantains in the microwave and her husband, Emilio, gave me the urban, updated idea of lightening up some Cuban-influenced dishes. The result is this menu, my interpretation of Metro-Retro Cuban cooking. This dinner is also delicious made with seasoned grilled thin-cut chicken breast, seasoned in the same manner as the steak.

Recipe notes

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.